 | |
| Full name | Vagonul Arad |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Vagonarii (The Wagoners) |
| Short name | Vagonul |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Dissolved | 2006 |
| Ground | Vagonul |
Vagonul Arad was a Romanianfootball club based inArad. Founded in 1911, it quickly became one of the city’s top teams. The club was affiliated withAstra Arad, a rail equipment manufacturing company. It was dissolved in 2006.
The club was formed in Arad in 1911 whenAMEF(Asociația Muncitorilor pentru Educație Fizică) (lit. 'Workers Association for Physical Education') merged withClubul Sportiv al Fabricii De Vagoane (Rail Cars Factory Sports Club), keeping the first ones name until 1948.[1][2]
AfterWorld War I it qualified for the national championship 3 times, but never being able to pass the semi-finals.
During 1932-1940 we see the club playing inDivizia A, their best performance - 2nd place at the end of the1935-36 season.
In 1940 AMEF is dissolved by thelegionar regime, but afterWorld War II, we see it for a couple of years inLiga II (1946–1948).[3]
AMEFA was admitted to thefirst season ofDivizia B after the Second World War, finishing 2nd in Series I and qualifying for the promotion play-off, where it lost 1–2 in the semifinals against the 2nd-placed team in Series III,Karres Mediaș. In the1947–48 season, AMEFA finished 9th in Series III and was relegated toDivizia C. In 1948, it merged with theUzina de Vagoane Arad (lit. 'Arad Wagon Enterprise') football team, forming a new club named UVA AMEFA, led by coach Băneșu, who was soon replaced by former player Albu. The team competed forone season in Divizia C, ranking 4th in Series I by February 1949, when Divizia C was shut down. Renamed Metalul AMEFA, the team played in theArad Regional Championship until the end of the1954 season, when it won the title and earned promotion toDivizia B after finishing 1st in Series III of the promotion play-off held in Sibiu.[4][5]
In the1955 Divizia B season, Metalul ranked 14th in Series II and was relegated to the newly re-established Divizia C. Renamed Energia Metalul, the team won Series IV of the1956 Divizia C, finishing five points ahead of the runners-upFlamura Roșie Râmnicu Vâlcea and 3rd-placedȘtiința Craiova, and returned quickly to the second division. The team, led by Ștefan Pernecki, included Kiss, Pîrvulescu, Juhasz, Sîrbu, Järger, Ujj, Soliu, Busch, Tamaș, Bucurescu, Moldoveanu, Petica, Mărghidan, Renich, Popa, Mircea, and Tipei.[6]
Once again renamed UVA AMEFA, the team finished 7th in Series I of the1957–58 season, 12th in Series I in1958–59, 9th in Series III in1959–60, and 12th in Series III in1960–61.[7]
Before the1961–62season, the team was once again renamed, this time Vagonul Arad, more clearly reflecting the name of the enterprise that provided financial support, and Toma Jurcă was appointed as head coach. Under his guidance, Vagonul finished 5th in Series III and 12th in the same series thefollowing year, which led to relegation to Divizia C. Jurcă remained in charge, and the team managed to bounce back the following year, winning the West Series of Divizia C in the1963–64 season and securing promotion to Divizia B once again under his leadership.[3][8][9]
In Divizia B, the team led by Toma Jurcă competed in Series II, ranking 6th in the1964–65 season and 3rd in both1965–66 and1966–67.[7] Vagonul managed to win the series in the1967–68 season, thus securing promotion to Divizia A and returning to the Romanian top flight after twenty-eight years.That same season, Vagonul Arad also reached the semi-finals ofCupa României, where it lost 0–2 to the first division sideRapid București. The squad included Arghișan, Chivu, Boroș, Mülroth, Gherghel, Schweillinger, Petschowschi III, Matușinca, Lenard, Stănoaie, Dembrovschi, Mihai, Secui, Dvorszak, Gh. Macavei, and I. Macavei.[4][10]
After only one season of top class football, the team relegates toLiga II and from now forward we see it going only down. 1969–1971Liga II, after thisLiga III, where they were close to the regional championship, but in 1973 a merger withCFR Arad saved them. The new team was given the nameUnirea, and plays inLiga II until 1977, in 1974 changing its name again, this time toRapid Arad. The 1977–1980 period sees the club inLiga III, 1980–1984 inLiga II, 1984–1989Liga III. In 1985 –CSM Rapid, 1986 –Vagonul, 1987 –CSM Vagonul.[8]
| Name[1] | Period |
|---|---|
| AMEFA Arad | 1911–1940 |
| UVA AMEFA Arad | 1948–1954 |
| Metalul AMEFA Arad | 1954–1956 |
| Energia Metalul Arad | 1956–1958 |
| UVA AMEFA Arad | 1958–1961 |
| Vagonul Arad | 1961–1973 |
| Unirea Arad | 1973–1974 |
| Rapid Arad | 1974–1986 |
| Vagonul Arad | 1986–1991 |
| Astra Arad | 1991–1994 |
| FC Arad | 1994–1996 |
| Telecom Arad | 1996–2005 |
| Romtelecom Arad | 2005–2006 |
The club succeeds to promote toLiga II once again in 1989, from 1991 with the name ofAstra. The spell lasts only until 1992, and the club sees itself inLiga III once again. The name changes again:FC Arad in 1994,Telecom Arad in 1996, andRomtelecom in 2005.[8]
At the end of theLiga III 2005-06 season, the club finished 13th and relegated to the Arad County Championship (Fourth League), and with this we see the disappearance of another old Romanian football club.
The footballers mentioned below have played at least 1 season for Vagonul Arad and also played inLiga I for another team.
Gheorghe Albu (1959–1964)Ionuț Popa (1996–1997)